President of Methodist Peace Fellowship and Member of Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Fellowship was thrilled to hear that Rev Inderjit Bhogal has been award the 2018 World Methodist Peace Award. His extensive lifetime commitment to living out a witness to peace has been a challenge and inspiration to us all.
Speaking in response to the news Inderjit said
“I am surprised but also deeply honoured to receive the World Methodist Peace Award.
It is humbling to be listed alongside other remarkable recipients of the award. My whole life has been inspired by people around the world who have held up the witness to peace making, challenging war, violence and killing. I am more persuaded than ever that non-violent resolution of conflict is the way forward at all levels and in all human relationships.
It is important to strengthen peace-making, and nonviolence as the way to resolve conflict, and it is important to uphold the witness of peace-making and of nonviolence led by people like Mahatma Gandhi, the Rev Dr Martin Luther King, the recipients of the World Methodist Peace Award, and numerous less well-known people.”
His response went on to include a wide-ranging call to action on the root causes of violence today:
“The primary form of violence and cause of conflict, and the biggest killer is poverty, and increasingly also environmental degradation. We must challenge our governments to divert money and investment from war to the ending of poverty and tackling climate change and pollution. In our personal lives we need to find ways to live with greater grace and generosity with those who are different from us.”
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is an ecumenical movement made up of many different groups and interests. For us, having the The Methodist Peace Fellowship in our network means we have a vibrant heartbeat for social and scriptural holiness. This presence challenges the Methodist Church and the wider Fellowship of Reconciliation to be holistic in it’s call to live out a true witness to peace.
John Cooper, Director of the Fellowship said:
“Inderjit’s award is a welcome moment of global recognition for his prophetic and challenging ministry. In all his roles he has embodied a uniquely Methodist approach to peace-building, centred on listening to marginalised voices for glimpses of where God’s lasting peace is needed today. His message has always been a constant challenge, that peace is never passive, instead to be found during the vibrant march to justice required for peace to be built. We’re grateful to have him, and the Methodist Peace Fellowship, among our membership and look forward to walking the road to peace together for many years to come”
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